Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering

Strategic Objectives

Vision

The Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering will be the undergraduate petroleum
engineering program of choice in Texas and the USA and will be recognized as one of
the top research and graduate petroleum engineering departments in the nation in specialized
areas.

Mission

To provide excellent instruction and design experiences essential for graduates to
enter the practice of petroleum engineering and pursue life-long professional development.

To conduct research that generates, communicates, and applies new knowledge for the
betterment of society.

To foster a spirit of service and leadership among students and faculty and assist
the public in addressing issues concerning the use of resources, protection of the
environment, and development of infrastructures.

The department fulfills an obligation to the people of the state of Texas and the
nation in making available the technical expertise for the safe and efficient development,
production, and management of petroleum reserves.

Critical Success Factors (measured by the degree of success over the next 5 years):

Infrastructure requirements required to build out consortium and research activities
into nationally recognized centers.

$20,000 per year per Ph.D. student for TA support.

$10,000 per faculty member per year for attendance and participation in national and
international conferences.

$250,000 external funds and $50,000 matching funds from the Edward E. Whitacre Jr.
College of Engineering (COE) and the University for the establishment of Research
Opportunities for undergraduate studies.

$25,000 for startup and $10,000 annually to identify new SWPSC opportunities to support
research and teaching efforts, and to initiate new publications beyond the conference
proceedings.

Objective 2.1: Increase to target of $250,000/FTE/year in research expenditures

Strategy

Increase proposal output with additional faculty and new Ph.D. program.

Continue publishing new journal papers to enhance reputation.

Assessment

Amount per FTE faculty in research expenditures.

Objective 2.2: Build research programs that enhance the academic reputation of the
Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering for undergraduate and graduate students.

Strategy

Work with industry to maintain recent technology needs and support.

Assessment

Number of citations of literature, papers published, and results used by industry.

Objective 2.3: Build current externally funded areas of research to nationally recognized
centers of excellence.

Objective 6.5: Continue a coordinated system for policies and procedures.

Strategy

Continue to ensure that department policies agree with COE and University Operating
Policies.

Assessment

Evaluation of policies.

Objective 6.6: 100% of faculty registered as Professional Engineers.

Strategy

Currently our tenured faculty members are Registered Professional Engineers.

Insist new members of faculty to become Registered Professional Engineers.

Assessment

Number of Professional Engineers.

Objective 6.7: Finalize the development of test well and production facility.

Strategy

Initial infrastructure is in progress.

Enhance test well into Advanced Production Facility utilizing excellence funding.

Assessment

Test well facility completed.

Objective 6.8: Increase the teaching and research assistantships in the Petroleum
Engineering department.

Strategy

Apply for funds from industry and the university.

Assessment

Level of funds.

Number of teaching and research assistantships.

Objective 6.9: Renovate and modernize existing laboratory space for new research efforts.

Strategy

Explore opportunities for industry funds.

Assessment

Level of funding.

Goal 7: Tradition and Pride − Enhance the national image of the Bob L. Herd Department
of Petroleum Engineering.

Critical Success Factors (measured by the degree of success over the next 5 years):

Faculty participating on boards of national technical societies.

National meetings & conventions on campus.

Student participation in the student SPE chapter.

Host alumni events to broadcast new developments in the Bob L. Herd Department of
Petroleum Engineering to encourage participation in department activities.

Internal student paper contest, mentoring and travel expenses.

Multi−disciplinary proposals.

Increase the number of courtesy faculty appointments from the colleges of Engineering
and Natural Sciences in the departmental multi−disciplinary research proposals and
the graduate students supervisory committees.

Objective 7.1: Continue to advertise and promote the Southwestern Petroleum Short
Course.

Strategy

Utilization of webpage, newsletter, industry contacts, PIAB, and other methods to
advertise.

Objective 7.7: Seek faculty membership in national academies.

Determine requirements for entrance for current qualified members of faculty.

Assessment

Number of faculty in national academy.

Objective 7.8: Increase alumni participation in department activities to encourage
establishment of working relationship with the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum
Engineering.

Strategy

Continue alumni SPE reception at SPE conference.

Assessment

Alumni surveys received in ABET® assessment tools.

Alumni participation.

Objective 7.9: Increase the number of faculty members from Chemical and Mechanical
engineering, Geosciences, and Mathematics, participating in inter−departmental research
and classroom activities to foster establishment of a working relationship with the
Department of Petroleum Engineering.

Strategy

Continue involvement with law school in property evaluation class.

Assessment

Number of inter−departmental projects.

Goal 8: Development and Marketing − Enhance the fiscal stability through development
activities that support students, faculty, and departmental operations.

Critical Success Factors (measured by the degree of success over the next 5 years:

Part-time development proposal writer.

Endowed chair.

Establish a Master of Science degree program in Natural Gas Engineering.

Maintain the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering website.

Continue the departmental newsletter.

Support and expand involvement of Petroleum Engineering Academy with faculty and students.

Objective 8.2: Contact graduates and alumni concerning research and classroom activities
and requirements.

Objective 8.3: Increase the visibility of Petroleum Engineering opportunities and
enhance contributions that Petroleum Engineers can make to society.

Strategy

Advertise the PE graduate salaries.

Advertise the diverse employment locations available to graduates.

Utilize the newsletter, PIAB, and recruiting officer to advertise.

Assessment

Survey students for effectiveness of campaigns.

Objective 8.4: Design and implement strategic departmental marketing/advertising/promotion
campaigns that promote the accomplishments and capabilities of the department.

Strategy

Assignment to recruiting officer to present and implement critiqued plan.

Assessment

Plan implemented.

Objective 8.5: Initiate proposal to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
for a Master of Science degree program in Natural Gas Engineering for inclusion into
the degree offering by the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering.

Strategy

Assignment to Petroleum Engineering graduate advisor to present our faculty a tentative
plan in one year.